Tape reel



Oct. 7 1924.,

w. E. KEUF'FEL TAPE REEL Filed May 2, 1922 Patented Oct. 7, 1924.

UN 1 TED Is Tar s AT eel wILL EL. E. KEnr'EEL, or WEEHLAWKEN rowNsii1r, -Iunso1v COUNTY, NEW JEEsEY,

AssI'GnoB TO KEUFFEL & ESSEB ooMieANY, or OKEE, NEW JERSEY, A COR- roRA'rIoN OF NEW JERSEY.

I Application filed May 2,

My invention relates tocased tape reels,

and its novelty consists in the adaptation and construction of the parts, as will be more fully hereinafter pointed out.

My device furnishes a spring retaining member for the handle of the crank which acts as a spring knockout, thereby throwing the handle clear of the drum as it is released from said spring, thereby enabling the operator to more readily use said device with gloves or when the hands are stiff with the cold. The drum in my device is also constructed so that it is the full depth of the casing in which it is enclosed, and thereby rotates evenly in the bearings of the casing at all times and prevents the drum from wearing unevenly on said bearings and becoming loose in the bearings.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of my device with a portion of the case broken away in order to show the interior construction of the reel; Figure 2 is a vertical side view of the reel member showing the crank and handle in the open position; Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Figure 4 is a vertical side view of the bottom plate of the reel with the attached parts; Figure 5 is a top plan view of the plate shown in Fig. 4; and Figure 6 is a vertical section of my device as it lies in the horizontal position showing the complete internal construction.

In the drawings 7 is a casing usually made of thin steel covered with leather which has bushings 34 in central openings in the top and bottom thereof forming bearin s 8. A reel having an upper plate 9 and a rum 10 integral therewith is adapted to be mounted in said bearings 8, and a bottom plate 11 having holes 12 is adapted to be secured by means of screws 13 through said holes 12 to two internally threaded posts 14: and 28 which are rigidly secured to the inside of the plate 9. A retaining spring 15 is rigidly secured to the bottom plate 11 by TArE EEEni "1922. Serial in 553,0324.

adapted to engageahole 18 in the upper plate 9, so as to form the third post between the upper plate 9jand the lower plate 11 together with the two posts" irana 28. The spring 15 has twospring gripping jaws 19 and an upturned guide member 20, all of crank 21 is hinged to the plate 9 in the usual well-known manner at 22, and a handle 23 is hinged to the crank 21 at 2 1. The upper plate 9 has an opening 25 through which the handle 23 is adapted to pass when the crank 21 is in the closed position, and the handle 23 also is adapted to press open the spring gripping jaws 19 sufliciently to allow which are-integral with said spring 15; A

the handle 23 to pass through, thereby gripping the handle in the small portion of the same and holding it against accidental dislodgment therefrom, and the guide member 20 acts as a guide for the handle 23 when the crank 21 is being closed. VVhen the crank 21 is in the closed position and the handle 23 is retained by the spring gripping jaws 19, the handle 23 asit projects through the lower plate 11 and through an opening 32 in the plate 11, may be readily pushed through the spring gripping jaws 19 until the larger part of the handle 23 passes through, whereupon the spring gripping jaws 19 snapping together throw the handle 23 outwardly together with the crank 21, thereby effecting a strongknocko-ut for. the handle 23 and the crank 21.

The drum 10 in my device being integral with the plate 9 is sufficiently deep to complete the reel by the adding of the bottom plate 11, so that the drum 10 in the reel effects a complete structure as shown in Fig. 2, and the'complete reel rotates in the bearings 8 so that the variation in the tension of the tape 33 on the drum 10 will not cause the drum 10 and plates 9 and 11 to vary in the rotation in the bearings 8,

thereby preventing any unusual wear on the bearings 8 and the loosening of the reel in tape drum adapted to rotate in said bearings and said drum being rigidly secured to an upper and a lower plate so as to form a complete bearing between the same.

2. In a tape reel the combination of a tape case having top and bottom central openings, a top and bottom plate, a tape drum being rigidly secured to said plates so as to form a complete bearing between the same, and suitable bearings in said case adapted to receive said plates and drum for rotation.

3. In a tape reel the combination. of a top and bottom plate and a tape drum rigidly secured to said plates so as: to form a complete bearing between the same, a crank hinged to said top plate, a handle hinged to said crank, suitable openings for said handle in said plates, and a; spring rigidly secured to said bottom plate having a pair of gripping jaws adapted to engage and retain said handle and to also snap it out when the handle is pressed out of en ga-gement therewith.

4. In a tape reel the combination with a tape case of a top and bottom plate, a tape drum rigidly secured to said plates so as to form a complete bearing between the same, suitable bearings in said case adapted to receive said plates and drum for rotation, a crank hinged to said top plate, a handle hinged to said crank, suitable openings for said handle in said plates, and a spring rigidly secured to said bottom plate having a pair of gripping jaws adapted to engage and retain said handle and to also snap it out when the handle is pressed out of engagement therewith.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIE L. E. KEUFFEL. 

